The last thing one expects to see in a tropical destination such as Captiva Island, Florida is an English-style pub. That, however, is exactly what visitors should expect when they visit the Mucky Duck on Captiva. This neighborhood pub is a favorite hangout of locals and visitors alike. It was established when two entrepreneurial fellows realized that an opportunity was staring them in the face. There was a liquor license available for Captiva Island and there just happened to be a building that was situated in an ideal spot. One thing led to another and the Mucky Duck was born.

The island pub draws its name from a very famous pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon. That English town is probably most famous for being the home of William Shakespeare. It is also home to a pub called the Black Swan. The locals refer to it as the “Mucky Duck”. The Mucky Duck in Captiva took its name from the Black Swan and much of its atmosphere and offerings from the concept of a good English pub. It just so happens that this particular English pub represents the only such establishment on Captiva which enjoys a view of the ocean.

The Mucky Duck is probably most well-known for the sunset drink tradition that is popular with many islanders. With its view of the sunset and frosty brews, the Mucky Duck is the best place to watch the sun go down. The Mucky Duck is located in the center of Captiva’s commercial district. There is a dinner and a lunch menu. They both consist of seafood offerings and other restaurant and pub fair. The restaurant also offers a host of souvenirs that guests can bring home to commemorate their visit. Everything from beer mugs to a Mucky Duck golf ball is available.

Sanibel Island has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best places on the planet to go shelling. The shelling is made possible by the undersea geography of the island and the many secluded beaches on the island. The island is also home to the largest museum related to shells in the world. There are an amazing variety of shells that one can find on any one of the beaches on this island. Sanibel has miles of beach and most of it is covered in shells of various types.

Sanibel Island is located on a plateau that stretches far out into the Gulf of Mexico. This geography results in the creation of a natural shelf, which is an attractive habitat for shellfish. Walking along the beaches, visitors will find shells including Junonia, Tulip, Sand Dollar, Conch and many more varieties. The “Sanibel Stoop” is the casual name given to the frequent posture adopted by tourists as they peruse what lies on the sands. Remember to check to see if the shell is home to any creatures before gathering it! The local law protects any shell which is still inhabited. Shelling is not allowed in the island’s wildlife refuges.

To find smaller shells, head to the Lighthouse side of the island. Lighthouse Beach is also excellent for fishing and relaxing in the sun. For larger shells, the northern portions of Captiva and Sanibel are both the best bets. To see the largest collection of shells in the world, visit the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. This museum is located on Sanibel-Captiva Road on the island of Sanibel. There are a huge number of exhibits to explore. While the beaches on Sanibel provide thousands of shells to collect, the Shell Museum helps visitors to put them into context.

Sanibel and Captiva Islands, just to the south of Fort Myers, offer some of the best sailing waters around. These islands are surrounded by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The seas here tend to be tranquil and inviting and, since the 1960s, literally hundreds of thousands of people have obtained their sailing license on these islands. The main schools can be found on the island of Sanibel. Sanibel is the larger of the two islands and the home of most of its commercial and tourist development.

Not only does Sanibel offer sailing instruction from various providers, it also represents one of the best places to go sailing. Whether one is a novice or an old salt, there are truly wondrous places to explore near these islands. Tarpon Bay is situated on the northeastern section of the island. This bay is home to both bottlenose dolphins and manatees. Both of these creatures are renowned for their intelligence and their gentle nature. One may ply the bay in search of these mammals and, if one wishes, one may take a swim with the mammals, as well. Be certain to obey any speed restrictions to protect the manatees.

While eco tourism may be a huge draw on this island, those who have learned to sail can take advantage of another huge draw: fishing. There are great numbers of game fish in this area, including shark and redfish. Of course, should the spirit overcome one, one may take off for lands further offshore. Sanibel and Captiva both enjoy proximity to all that Fort Myers has to offer in addition to being close to other islands. New sailors can test their skills by heading to more distant destinations and enjoying the island view as they sail!

Most enticements to explore a beach contain numerous references to the popularity, crowds and shops found along the sands. Bowman’s Beach is something different altogether. This beach, located on Sanibel Island along a road of the same name offers something very rare in Florida: a secluded beach. This beach has all of the things that make beaches in Sanibel so popular but has a decidedly more laid back feel to it. On this beach, one will not feel that they’re in one of the most bustling tourist areas in the nation.

On Bowman’s Beach, one will find none of the development that characterizes most seaside resorts. In fact, the other development on the island isn’t even visible from this beach. One will have to walk to the beach from the parking area. The entire journey is about one quarter of a mile and will take visitors across a wooden bridge that spans an expanse of fresh water. There are literally miles of beach to explore in the immediate area. They are of white sand and, like most of the beaches on Sanibel, they are full of shells. The shelling is particularly good on this beach after a storm has passed through.

Getting to Bowman’s Beach is not particularly difficult, though it does feel miles away from anywhere. Sanibel-Captiva Road—popularly called “San-Cap” on the island—has signs that advertise the beach starting around mile 4.8. The Bowman’s’ Beach Road is about a tenth of a mile long and terminates at the beach’s parking lot. On the beach, guests will find barbecues, picnic tables, showers, telephones, restrooms and other amenities. There are RV and camper spaces in the parking lot. The beach is open from 7am to 7pm and parking incurs a charge of $2 per hour.

Sanibel Island manages to maintain a busy social events calendar, despite the small size of the island. The community holds several events during the holiday season. Among them will be the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers presentation of the Messiah. The event will take place on December 13 at the Big Arts facility on Dunlop Road. Sanibel is the site of many community celebrations. Some of them are quite beautiful, particularly around the holidays, and feature traditional elements—such as Christmas lights—presented in entirely new ways. The tight sense of community on this island means these events are usually very well-attended.

The Christmas Luminary Trail and Open House is among the island’s most popular events. Taking place on December 4^th and 5^th, the event features a whole different kind of Christmas light display. The streets are lined with Luminaries—paper bags with a candle inside—that provide a beautiful glow to the surroundings. These luminaries are one of the distinctive elements of this island’s holiday celebrations. The site of the quaint island buildings lit up by the soft glow of the candles is very hard to forget and is beautiful, indeed.

Sanibel has some fun holiday events, as well. At The Schoolhouse Theater, one of the island’s landmarks, there will be a special run of a season-appropriate play from December 15 through December 31. The play, entitled “Every Christmas Story Ever Told” pokes fun at traditional Christmas stories. The play is a three-actor affair and features parodies of well-known tales. The holiday season will be rife with other events, as well. Even during the coldest part of the year, the beaches on Sanibel are still inviting. Celebrating the holidays in a tropical paradise like Sanibel and Captiva is rather an event in and of itself!